25 January 2024
Having never travelled anywhere, not even in his home country of India, Sandeep Kataria, 27, now an International Master of Business Administration (Marketing) graduate, says he does not regret taking the plunge to study abroad at the University of South Australia.
The son of an electrician and a high school leaver, Sandeep is among the first generation in his family to obtain a tertiary education.
In fact, he is the first to have studied overseas.
“I liked the way professional marketers were finding new ways to attract their viewers. I enjoyed studying business subjects and developed an interest in accountancy, economics, and business studies in Year 11 and 12,” he says.
“I received more than 80% marks in economics and business studies and during that time, my older sister and one of my best friends influenced my choice to study commerce,” he says.
After the completion of his degree, Sandeep worked for a commerce company in Delhi, which specialised in earthmoving machinery. It was here, he says, where he gained a greater understanding of business management and a passion for marketing.
Desire to experience Australia’s education system
Eager to enhance his learning journey, Sandeep says he was drawn to an international education and studying at UniSA due to the University’s Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, the world’s largest centre for research into marketing.
“It has partnerships with many well-known international brands, which means UniSA has what a promising marketer needs. This was my main reason to choose to study here,” he says.
The Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, which comprises a team of more than 60 marketing scientists, has aided a variety of household names including Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Mondeléz International across four continents, to increase their brand reach through evidence-based marketing techniques.
He says another motivation to study at UniSA was his desire to experience an Australian education setting.
“I wanted to experience how the classroom environment is; how studying with other nationalities is. I just wanted to feel that,” Sandeep says.
Adelaide community polite and respectful
Aside from UniSA Business’ prestige, which encompasses a top one per cent worldwide ranking1 and an overall five stars for excellence2, Sandeep says he was also attracted to Adelaide for the “peaceful” lifestyle it offers.
“Where I’m from, it’s very busy and here it’s calm. Everyone is very polite and they respect my values and privacy. I really like that about people here,” he says.
UniSA’s Business Career Mentor Program 'fantastic'
Reflecting on his time at UniSA, he says his learning journey at one of the world’s top young universities3 “exceeded expectations” with his internship and involvement in the Business Career Mentor Program among his highlights.
“I was able to apply the skills I learnt in my degree in the internship I did at Digital Marketing Tribe in North Adelaide, like how to build a brand; how to manage a brand and what are the category entry points a brand should have,” Sandeep says.
He says having a mentor as part of the Business Career Mentor Program was particularly worthwhile.
“It was fantastic to have a mentor because she guided me on how the industry works in Australia including Australian etiquette and culture,” Sandeep says.
“My mentor made me realise my communications skills are an area I need to work on, which has been a great help.”
Learning how to swim
Coming to Australia also afforded Sandeep the opportunity to learn new sports such as swimming.
“Delhi is landlocked, so I’d never been to the beach and I’d never been to a swimming pool as well so when I came here I saw the swimming pool at UniSA’s City West campus. It was really amazing, and made me want to learn how to swim, so I joined the Bupa swimming classes,” he says.
“Through those classes I learnt different strokes and how to swim and I can proudly say I can swim now and Glenelg beach is one of my favourite spots in Adelaide.”
Together, UniSA Sport and Bupa, a health insurance company operating in Australia, run UniSA Student International Swimming Lessons at UniSA’s Pridham Hall.
The classes, which often sell out, teach participants how to swim, along with important information about water safety and lifesaving skills.
For only $AUD 20, students receive 4x45 minute lessons, a swim rash top and goggles.
Acclimatising to Adelaide
While Sandeep knows all too well the challenges that come with change, having encountered a few obstacles while adjusting to a foreign country, his word of advice to prospective students is to acclimatise to Adelaide first before seeking any new endeavours such as finding a job.
“Before students start university, I’d suggest they get to know their surroundings first; adjust to the culture, it will take some time and that’s okay. Get familiar with your course design and structure and how the assessments are divided and after getting comfortable with all of this, then move onto finding employment,” he says.
“Some students, even before getting comfortable with their surroundings and the education system, start looking for part-time jobs, which isn’t a great strategy because it can cause them problems in the long run.”
For Sandeep’s future, he is looking forward to developing his skills in the workplace and making a difference in the marketing world.
“I’m striving to become an efficient and creative marketer and I really want to push to include a social benefit element to the marketing material I create as this is not an area that is highly focused on in many developing countries,” he says.
Sandeep is a University of South Australia student ambassador from India. He is part of a group of students who are available to chat with future students about what it’s like studying at the University and living in Adelaide. Other than English, Sandeep is also fluent in Hindi.
To speak to a student ambassador who speaks your own language or is studying your preferred degree click here.
1. UniSA Business is one of just 12 institutions in Australia and approximately 200 globally (from over 25,000 universities) to be EQUIS accredited. EFMD, March 2022. 2023 QS Stars Business School Ratings.
2. 2023 QS Stars Ratings.
3. Ranked #52, 2023 THE Young University Rankings.
